Mk 2: 1-12
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Imagine Being Brought to Jesus
St. Ignatius encourages us to use our imagination in praying with Scripture. Try to find five minutes of quiet sometime today, close your eyes, and recall today’s Gospel. Imagine yourself as the paralytic. What infirmities do you bear — physical, emotional, spiritual? What paralyzes you; what is stiff, stuck, broken? What keeps you from living fully? In your life, who are the friends (family members, community, colleagues) who have brought you to Jesus?
Imagine yourself in front of Jesus now, looking into his eyes. What does he say to you? What do you say to him? What happens?
At the end of your contemplation, take a moment of recollection and prayer, in gratitude for whatever came to your mind and heart.
—Mary da Silva Abinante is retired from the Adult Spirituality Team at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.
Prayer
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
—Psalm 30: 1, 11-12